Everton dented Liverpool's ambitions of catching Chelsea as they
held The Reds to a 0-0 draw in the 205th Merseyside derby.
Rafa Benitez's side dominated possession and enjoyed the greater
share of the chances on home turf, but their inability to break
down Everton's backline saw them pass up the chance to move to
within two points of Jose Mourinho's second-placed side.
Everton had been delighted to welcome Andy Johnson back from injury
after a miracle recovery, but their success at Anfield was built on
a resolute defence which withstood sustained pressure throughout
the game.
Although Everton missed out on claiming their first league double
over their great rivals for the first time since the 1984/1985
season - following the memorable 3-0 win at Goodison earlier in the
campaign - a point against a team boasting a record of nine wins
from 10 games was still representative of a superb afternoon's work
for the Blue half of Merseyside.
Benitez started with three strikers for the first time at Anfield
this season, with Everton adopting a more conventional 4-5-1
formation, and the combination of the two made for a breathless
opening.
Both sides of the city could have been celebrating a goal inside
ten minutes, as Tony Hibbert almost marked his first appearance
since October in style by thundering a shot at Jose Reina after
latching onto Leon Osman's low cross in front of the Kop.
Peter Crouch went even closer immediately after, as Liverpool won a
free-kick following the first flashpoint of the derby when Tim
Cahill cleaned out an angry Jermaine Pennant.
Everton failed to clear the subsequent set-piece and only a fine
reaction stop from Tim Howard denied Crouch as the striker
acrobatically hooked the ball towards goal.
The Reds' other two forwards combined brilliantly in the left-hand
channel soon after, but Craig Bellamy was given offside from Dirk
Kuyt's pass before he fired the ball home from a tight angle.
When the Dutchman again teed up his colleague, with a header from
Pennant's deep cross, Bellamy only had to get his head to the ball
to beat Howard but somehow managed to fail to connect at all.
As the mist rolled in from the Mersey, reducing visibility
somewhat, Everton looked keen to ensure that the final destination
of the three points was far from transparent as Mikel Arteta's
free-kick was blocked before Leon Osman saw a header from Johnson's
cross claimed by Reina.
Moyes' men were well-organised and what was always a high energy
affair began to suffer from a lack of quality in the latter stages
of the first half, although there was precious little wrong with
Xabi Alonso's vicious long range effort that stroked the top of the
net.
Kuyt also saw a curling effort smartly saved by Howard as Everton
frustrated their in-form local rivals with a tireless display in
the first 45 minutes.
Liverpool emerged from the break doubly determined to make the
breakthrough and, after Alonso saw another long range effort
clasped by Howard, they almost had it when the ball fell to Jamie
Carragher at the back post from a set-piece.
The defender lined up a rare shot and hammered a fine effort that
was blocked by Phil Neville, suspiciously close to the Everton
man's arm.
On the hour mark it was Moyes' men who should have taken the lead
though, as Johnson took advantage of some sloppy play at the back
to charge through on goal.
After twisting past Carragher in the box, the striker was unable to
get his shot away immediately, and after dallying on the ball by
the penalty spot he saw his subsequent effort saved by the
outstretched legs of Reina.
Osman also powered a header just wide, but soon after normal
service was resumed as Steven Gerrard lashed a free-kick inches
off-target following a foul by Arteta on John Arne Riise.
The Reds continued to heap pressure on the visitors but Everton's
backline refused to buckle, and Lee Carsley exemplified the effort
that underpinned Everton's performance with a timely block to deny
Kuyt from Bellamy's cross.
The excellent Alan Stubbs also nicked the ball off the toes of the
Dutchman just as he was pulling the trigger, and Gerrard's
follow-up shot was gratefully clasped by Howard as anther attack
failed to bear fruit.
Bentiez threw on Robbie Fowler against the team he supported as a
child in the final stages, and the striker soon chested a ball
through for Crouch that his attacking colleague could only steer
weakly into the hands of Howard.
Liverpool's annoyance was evident when Alonso was guilty of a messy
high tackle on substitute Victor Anichebe, although he escaped a
caution, and their frustration was complete when the whistle blew
for full time.